[CR]Rene Herse's sloppy workmanship?

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Bianca Pratorius" <biankita@comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 5 Aug 2006 16:10:08 -0400
Subject: [CR]Rene Herse's sloppy workmanship?

I honestly hope that the characterization of the Rene Herse chromed bike as having "sloppy workmanship", was a joke. If it isn't, then I'm never coming to any CR events with any one of my bikes. Allowing for deterioration of the chrome through pitting, it looks about as perfect as lugwork ever gets. If that's not the case, than all my years of reading this list were in vain. What could have been improved? What looks especially crafty are the chainstay braze-ons. If I ever had a bike like that Rene Herse, I would have it re-chromed, take it out to the park, and claim that it still stands as the standard for pride and concern for details, that has been long since lost in our modern world. As long as don't run into one of the best of the KOF builders, I'd be on firm ground to say so.... Unless, of course, I really don't know much about framework at all. The bike looks so nice that I'd even leave on the fenders and racks.

Btw, the main reason I removed the fenders on my British Rudge and Dunelt, was because they made the bikes look too proper and civilized. Even as a kid, I wanted a bike that looked a little mean. Also, no matter how hard I tried, those fenders made a little rattle over the bumps. Bikes shouldn't rattle over rough terrain, and neither should the riders.

Garth Libre in Miami Fl.... (having just cleaned my chain in brake cleaner, re-installed, and oiled neatly with a touch of Prolink)... I can't even bear the sound of the smallest amount of grit in my chains. I may have to apologize for being too slow, or having a few scratches in the paint, but I'll never have to apologize for a noisy drivetrain. Noisy, out of adjustment drivetrains seem all the rage nowadays, even on bikes that cost more than one month of my salary.